Collapsible Container And Method Of Forming And Using A Collapsible Container

ABSTRACT

A container with adjustable enclosed volume is provided that&#39;s comprised of two identical collapsible containers interlocked together at their top rims or faces where both of the identical containers have connecting-means on their top rims or faces for locking or connecting the collapsible containers together, and a method of forming and using a collapsible and expandable container with adjustable enclosed volume is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Provisional Patent 61/291,921

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to collapsible containers with adjustable internal volume comprised of means for attaching or connecting similar collapsible containers together at their top rims in order to make a single, airtight container with adjustable enclosed volume. This invention also relates to a method of using collapsible containers with adjustable internal volume comprised of means for attaching or connecting similar collapsible containers together at their top rims in order to make a single, airtight container with adjustable enclosed volume.

2. Description of Prior Art

The Rubbermaid Corporation has produced and commercially sold collapsible bowls which can be expanded or compressed as needed in order to increase or reduce their volume, respectively. Only the exact amount of storage volume is provided so that space is saved when storing the sealed bowls in a refrigerator, freezer, or elsewhere. However, Rubbermaid's collapsible bowls require a separate lid or cover that is normally detached from the bowl and which makes it difficult to store the items neatly before usage. Losing the lids is also possible since the lids are usually not physically attached to the bowl at all times.

Container sets comprised of different sizes (volumes) of containers that lock together at the container faces or top rims are being advertised on TV and sold under the ‘WOW Containers’ brand name. The idea is to eliminate the need for lids, but only a few container sizes are offered in the advertised sets so there are only a limited number of combinations that can be made when matching and attaching the containers together at their faces. It's important to note, however, that the WOW Containers interlock together at their faces, but only the specific containers included in those sets which do not have adjustable internal volumes can be mixed and matched for connecting together. Thus, the container that's created by interlocking any two containers from the WOW Containers set also does not have adjustable enclosed volume so that space is not conserved during storage. There is also no way to exhaust air from the container that's created when two WOW Containers are locked together because neither of the two containers being locked together at their top rims have adjustable internal volume (they are not collapsible) to begin with. A lid in the case of the WOW Containers is merely one container from the set without adjustable internal volume being flipped over and locked together with another container without adjustable internal volume and nothing is gained as far as conserving storage space is concerned. The Hefty Corporation has produced and commercially sold disposable plates where two plates can be placed together in a certain manner for temporarily holding or storing food. The plates can be attached to each other with interlocking ribs so that one plate can be used as a lid or cover for another. Plates commercially known as Hefty Store 'n Serve plates use technology for attaching two similar plates together at their faces as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,704 to Hayes et al. (2005) to be known herein as the Hayes patent. However, Hayes failed to disclose containers with adjustable internal volumes which lock together at their faces or top rims where the enclosed or internal volume of the resulting container is also adjustable. Moreover, Hayes did not contemplate or disclose a method of locking two containers (bowls or plates for example) with adjustable internal volumes together at their faces or top rims with interlocking ribs and spaces where the enclosed volume of the resulting container is also adjustable. A problem with the Hefty Store 'n Serve plates (the Hayes patent put into practice) which made them less favorable to consumers is the series of interlocking ribs on each plate, as contemplated and disclosed by Hayes, do not necessarily provide a strong and airtight seal between the two plates when the ribs and spaces are locked together. Hefty clearly warns their customers not to store food items for long periods of time in a freezer apparently because of the inadequate seal provided between two plates. Hefty's plates are advertised as disposable (or “everyday”) and they can only be used a limited number of times before they are discarded. Discarding the disposable plates then presents an environmental and landfill problem because the plates are not easily recyclable and they are not environmentally friendly. It's also important to note that the prior art includes multiple commercially-successful inventions, such as other design patents issued to Hayes, that use containers which interlock together at their faces or top rims, but do not use containers with adjustable internal volumes. Finally, Hayes failed to contemplate or disclose connecting two containers with adjustable internal volume together at their faces or top rims by using side connectors or latches (instead of using rim spaces and ribs or other projections) that pull and hold the two containers tightly together to make a strong, airtight seal between them.

Manufacturing a matching lid for a bowl costs approximately 40% to 60% of the cost of making the bowl so it's logical to save material and make two containers where one container can be used separately or where one container can act as a cover for another matching container in the set. There are no collapsible bowls or containers in the prior art with adjustable enclosed volume which can be connected together at their faces or top rims so that a strong and airtight seal between them is achieved and where the resulting container has adjustable enclosed volume. There is also no method to be found in the prior art that comprises connecting together and using two provided collapsible bowls or containers with adjustable internal volume which can be connected together at their faces or top rims so that a strong and airtight seal between them is achieved and where the resulting container has adjustable enclosed volume. Having a method and associated means for connecting two identical bowls or containers together that have adjustable internal volume would result in a very limited number of identical items that must be stored when not used. There would simply be no separate lids that must be kept near or somehow attached to the matching bowls or containers in order to avoid losing one or the other. The same method and means for accomplishing that method would also prevent the unpleasant experience of not having a lid readily available when needed since each bowl or container can act as a lid or cover for the other bowl or container. If a method and means were available for connecting two collapsible bowls or containers together, then the bowls or containers can be expanded or contracted in order to conserve freezer or cabinet space.

Objects And Advantages

It would therefore be advantageous to provide collapsible containers with adjustable internal volume that can be interlocked together at their faces or top rims where a strong and airtight seal is achieved between them so that food can be stored and frozen if necessary for relatively long periods of time, and where the bowls and containers can be used many times before discarding. It would also be advantageous to provide collapsible containers with adjustable internal volume which can be interlocked together at their faces or top rims in a manner where the resulting container created from the two separate containers has adjustable enclosed volume that can be quickly and easily varied as needed. It would be of even greater advantage to provide a method of using provided containers with adjustable internal volume that can be locked together at their faces or top rims in a manner where the resulting container created from the two separate containers has adjustable enclosed volume that can be quickly and easily varied as needed along with a strong, airtight seal between the two interlocked containers.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, collapsible containers with adjustable internal volume are provided that interlock together at their faces or top rims in a manner that establishes a strong and airtight seal between them in order to preserve food when stored or frozen for any length of time, and where the resulting container made by interlocking two separate containers with adjustable internal volume together at their faces or top rims also has adjustable enclosed volume. A method of interlocking and using two provided identical collapsible bowls or containers with internal volume together at their faces or top rims to create a single container that also has adjustable enclosed volume is also provided. A container with adjustable enclosed volume is provided that's comprised of two identical collapsible containers interlocked together at their top rims or faces where both of the identical containers have connecting-means on their top rims or faces for locking or connecting the collapsible containers together.

DRAWINGS Numerals

1. Container #1 2. Container #2 3. Connecting means for interlocking 4. Side connectors or latches    two containers 5. Projections on top rim or container face 6. Hole or slot on top rim or    container face 7. Soft-Seal ring on rim or bowl face

Description

FIG. 1A through FIG. 1F shows a series of drawings illustrating method or the sequence of connecting two provided identical collapsible containers with adjustable internal volume together with matching rim projections and slots so that the resulting container also has adjustable enclosed volume.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B shows how two bowls with matching (but symmetrically opposite) side connectors or latches on the collapsible bowls or other containers with adjustable internal volume that attach together at their faces to pull and hold the two bowls tightly together.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the projections and slots which would hold two collapsible bowls or other containers with adjustable internal volume together having matching series of slots and projections on their top faces or rims.

FIG. 4A thru 4C shows the method for locking two collapsible containers with adjustable volume together where each container being locked together contains a soft-seal ring on the top rim for improved airtight sealing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A shows a first container 1, which has been provided that is fully expanded (not collapsed), but having means for connecting it to another similar container 3 at their top rims or faces. FIG. 1B shows the first container 1 in a collapsed condition, and in FIG. 1C, the first container 1 has been flipped over and remains collapsed in size and internal volume. In Fig. D, a second identical collapsible container 2 is provided and shown as being fully expanded, but now the first collapsed and flipped container 1 is brought down on top of the second container 2 and slightly rotated so the connecting means 3 on each container's top rim line up for interlocking (as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D). In FIG. 1E, the two containers are shown locked together where the connecting means 3 of each bowl are interlocked together to provide a strong and airtight seal between the two containers. Essentially, the first container 1 is acting as a lid for the second container 2, but it is obvious in FIG. 1F that the resulting container created by attaching the two containers together at their top rims has variable or adjustable enclosed volume where either one or both of the interlocked containers can be expanded or collapsed to vary the enclosed volume of the container created by interlocking the first and second containers together. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show how two identical containers (one of which is flipped over and possibly collapsed) with side latches 4 are placed together at their faces and slightly rotated so the latches 4 are offset. Each side latch 4 on a container will then match a space on the opposite container (lid) that does not have a latch in that specific area so that a latch on one container can be snapped into position so it attaches to and grabs the rim of the opposite container to keep the two container faces tightly pressed together. FIG. 3 illustrates the connecting means 3 of each container as being comprised of double rows of projections 5 that fit into matching holes or slots 6 on an opposite but identical container that has been slightly rotated about its central axis. In words, to get the projections 5 and the holes or slots 6 on one rim to match the associated projections 5 and the holes or holes 6 on the other rim, one or both containers must be rotated slightly. However, it should be apparent that the connecting means 3 can be comprised of any physical construction that will lock the two containers together at their faces or top rims in order to get a strong, airtight seal between them. FIG. 4A thru FIG. 4C show a method of interlocking two bowls or containers together at their top rims or faces to get a very strong and airtight seal between. FIG. 4A thru FIG. 4C all show the faces or top rims of a first container 1 and a second container 2 where both have projections 5, slots 6, and a soft-seal ring 7. In FIG. 4A, the projections 5 on one rim are lined up with matching slots 6 on the opposite rim and the soft-seal rings 7 on each container's face remain uncompressed. In FIG. 4B, the projections on one container rim are being forced into matching slots on the opposite container's rim and the soft-seal rings 7 of each container are lined up and slightly compressed. FIG. 4C illustrates how the soft-seal rings on each container rim have been fully pressed together as the projections on one container's rim are driven in and locked into a matching hole or slot on the opposite container's rim in order to get a strong and airtight seal between the two interlocked containers.

Additional Embodiments

Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention. It should be evident to one skilled in the art that the present invention is a combination of prior art that overcomes the limitations and provides new benefits over the prior art. The present invention provides containers with adjustable internal volume comprised of connecting-means that can be interlocked together to form an expandable or collapsible container with adjustable enclosed volume which is not disposable, but which instead is comprised of matter that is much stronger and resilient than paper or paper derivatives. Furthermore, any combination of non-disposable containers that can be interlocked together with other identical non-disposable containers with matching slots and projections on their rims that achieves a strong and airtight seal between them and where the resulting container also has adjustable enclosed volume would be construed by a person skilled in the art as being an object or embodiment of the present invention.

The use of a soft-seal ring as described herein and used along with a series of interlocking slots and projections of any type or design as used to lock two identical containers together would also be considered by one skilled in the art to be an additional embodiment of the present invention. The use of collapsible bowls or other containers with adjustable internal volume that lock together with interlocking side latches or any other side connectors on their top rims, for that matter, would surely be considered by a person skilled in the art to be a further embodiment of the present invention.

Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. An expandable or collapsible container with adjustable enclosed volume comprised of two identical collapsible containers each with adjustable enclosed volume connected together at their top rims or faces where said two identical collapsible containers are each comprised of connecting-means on their top rims or faces for connecting said two identical collapsible containers together.
 2. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein each of said two identical collapsible container's physical construction is generally circular or oval in shape.
 3. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein each of said two identical collapsible container's physical construction is generally square or rectangular in shape.
 4. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein each of said two identical collapsible containers is comprised of plastic matter.
 5. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein each of said two identical collapsible containers is comprised of silicone.
 6. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein each of said two identical collapsible containers is comprised of waterproof cloth or other textile matter.
 7. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein said connecting-means is comprised of latches or other locking devices located on the rim or face of said collapsible container.
 8. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein said connecting-means is comprised of symmetrically located projections and slots or holes that can interlock together with matching projections and slots or holes located on an identical provided said second container.
 9. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 1 wherein said connecting-means comprises a soft-seal ring that can be pulled or pressed together when connecting two identical said containers together and when other articles comprising said connecting-means of either said container are interlocked, bound, or otherwise connected together, whereby an airtight seal is made between said container and another identical said container when both said containers are connected together with said connecting-means.
 10. A method of forming and using a collapsible or expandable container with adjustable enclosed volume comprised of two identical collapsible containers each with adjustable enclosed volume connected together at their top rims or faces where said identical collapsible containers are comprised of connecting-means for connecting said identical collapsible containers together at their faces or top rims comprising, providing a first collapsible container with adjustable internal volume comprised of connecting-means located on the top rim or face of said container for attaching or connecting said container to another identical collapsible container, and providing a second collapsible container with adjustable internal volume comprised of connecting-means located on the top rim or face of said container for attaching or connecting said container to another identical collapsible container, then filling said first provided container with food or other matter, then inverting or completely flipping over said second provided container, then if needed, collapsing said second container to reduce its internal volume, then placing said second container over said first container, then connecting together both said containers by interlocking or otherwise binding said connecting-means provided on both said containers together, then insuring a mechanically strong and airtight gas seal is present between connected said containers, then adjusting further the internal volume of one or both connected said containers to reduce the total enclosed volume of the container created by connecting both provided said containers together, then storing said container created by connecting both provided said containers together with enclosed said food or other matter for a period of time, then opening or releasing said connecting-means provided on each said provided container to open said container created by connecting both provided said containers together, then removing said food or other matter from said provided first container, whereby said container comprised of said two identical collapsible containers connected together keeps said stored food or other matter fresher longer while occupying a minimal amount of storage space.
 11. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein each of said two identical collapsible container's physical construction is generally circular or oval in shape.
 12. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein each of said two identical collapsible container's physical construction is generally square or rectangular in shape.
 13. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein each of said two identical collapsible containers is comprised of plastic matter.
 14. The containers in claim 10 wherein said containers are comprised of silicone.
 15. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein each of said two identical collapsible containers is comprised of silicone.
 16. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein said connecting-means of each of said two identical containers is comprised of latches or other locking devices located on the rim or face of each said collapsible container.
 17. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein said connecting-means of each of said two identical containers is comprised of symmetrically located projections and slots or holes that can interlock together with matching projections and slots or holes located on an identical provided other said container.
 18. The expandable or collapsible container in claim 10 wherein said connecting-means of each of said two identical containers is comprised of a soft-seal ring that can be pulled or pressed together when connecting two identical said containers together and when other articles comprising said connecting-means of either said container are interlocked, bound, or otherwise connected together, whereby an airtight seal is made between provided said containers when both said containers are connected together with said connecting-means.
 19. A collapsible container with adjustable internal volume comprised of connecting-means located on the top rim or face of said container for attaching or connecting said container to another identical collapsible container, whereby two said containers can be locked together at their top rims or faces to create another container with adjustable enclosed volume.
 20. The collapsible container in claim 19 wherein said connecting-means is comprised of latches or other locking devices located on the rim or face of said collapsible container, or else said connecting-means is comprised of symmetrically located projections and slots or holes that can interlock together with matching projections and slots or holes so one said identical collapsible container can be attached to another said identical collapsible container to form combined said container with adjustable enclosed volume. 